Police neutralise nine terrorists, recover 23 firearms, millions in ransom

Operatives of the Nigeria Police have killed nine suspected terrorists and recovered 23 firearms and ammunition in various parts of the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the police revealed that armed men had invaded Gobiraje Village in the Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi State, abducting one Umaru Bawa, aged 60, on 14th February 2025.

The statement, signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained that police operatives attached to the Kebbi State Command tracked the suspects to Tundafari Forest in the Dakingari area of the state. There, they engaged the criminals in a gun battle.

“As a result, four of the kidnappers were neutralised, and one was arrested with fatal injuries, while the kidnapped victim was rescued unharmed,” the statement read.

The police also recovered N3 million, the ransom already paid to the kidnappers.

The statement further outlined another operation on 8th February 2025, when operatives from the Nigeria Police Force, working with other security agencies, carried out a tactical operation targeting an IPOB/ESN terrorist camp located in Ezioha Mbaitolu, within the Umuele Umuaka Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State.

The operation led to the neutralisation of two ESN kingpins, the recovery of seven AK-47 rifles, 13 pump-action guns, hundreds of rounds of assorted live ammunition, and the successful disbandment of the camp.

On 9th February 2025, the operatives moved to the Nkwukwo Forest in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, near the boundary with Ubachima Forest in Awomama Oru West Local Government Area, Imo State. There, they intercepted a group of terrorists who opened fire upon seeing the police.

During the ensuing exchange of gunfire, three terrorist kingpins were neutralised, and the operatives recovered two AK-47 rifles, each loaded with 36 rounds of live ammunition, one pump-action gun, one cutlass, four motorcycles, and various criminal charms.